Device for coveying a supply roll

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for conveying at least one supply roll, comprising a roll support surface on which the supply roll can be placed with its longitudinal axis extending essentially horizontally. The supply roll can be rolled out in at least one conveying direction with its lateral surface on said roll support surface. The device has at least one transport element with at least one rotating drive device. The carrying run of said drive device can be brought into contact with the lateral surface of the supply roll from below, directly or indirectly, and can be driven in at least one conveying direction.

[0001] The invention relates to a device in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 for conveying a supply roll.

[0002] Apron conveyors are known from WO 98/12133 A1, on which the paper rolls can be placed horizontally, i.e. with longitudinal axes extending nearly horizontally, and conveyed in the direction of the front faces of the paper rolls. Moreover, conveying carts are known from WO 98/12133 A1 which, loaded with paper rolls, can be moved through the printing plant on tracks.

[0003] Driverless conveying vehicles are known from DE 39 10 444 C2 which, loaded with paper rolls, can be moved from the roll storage facility to the rotary printing presses. An inclined roll feeding surface is provided in accordance with DE 39 10 444 C2 for conveying the paper rolls in the roll storage facility. This means that the roll storage facility has a roll feeding surface extending obliquely from the top to the bottom in the conveying direction, at whose upper end the paper rolls are unloaded. Because of the weight acting on the paper rolls and the inclined roll feeding surface, a descending force along the slope is generated, which acts in the conveying direction, so that the paper rolls roll downward on the roll feeding surface without any additional conveying devices and can be conveyed in the conveying direction in this way. In accordance with DE 39 10 444 C2, bumper elements are arranged in the roll feeding surface for controlling the conveying movement, by means of which the downward rolling paper rolls can be slowed down.

[0004] GB 2 244 984 A discloses supply rolls which roll off on a surface and are conveyed from above by means of a circulating drive mechanism.

[0005] DE 21 45 179 A1 shows supply rolls which are loaded onto conveying carts by means of pushing blocks.

[0006] DE 29 44 265 A1 describes a circulating conveyor belt with receivers for supply rolls.

[0007] The object of the invention is based on creating a device for conveying a supply roll.

[0008] In accordance with the invention, this object is attained by means of the characteristics of claim 1.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0010] The advantages which can be achieved by means of the invention reside in particular in that it is possible by the movement of the driving mechanism to convey the supply rolls in the conveying direction on the roll feeding surface independently of the weight forces acting on the supply rolls. For this purpose the upper belt of the driving mechanism, which can be driven in a circulating manner, is brought indirectly or directly into contact with the surface area from below, so that by means of the movement of the driving mechanism a force directed in the conveying direction is transferred from the driving mechanism to the supply roll. The conveying element can contain further components, besides the driving mechanism, for example a frame, drive motors, spring elements, etc.

[0011] Since the supply rolls to be conveyed sometimes have a very great weight, a considerable potential for danger to the operators is posed by storing such supply rolls on an inclined roll feeding surface. Therefore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the roll feeding surface extends substantially horizontally. The roll feeding surface can also be slightly inclined for aiding the conveying movement of the driving mechanism. It follows from this that substantially no descending forces along the slope corresponding to the weight of the supply rolls act on the latter, and driving of the supply rolls takes place solely by the actuation of the driving mechanism. Potential danger because of a supply roll unintentionally rolling down on the roll feeding surface is removed by this, because the supply rolls remain in their respective positions even when the device as a whole fails. It is therefore possible to automate such a device for conveying supply rolls in a simple way, particularly without any additional protective means, since supervising the device by the operators is not absolutely required because of the reduced endangerment of humans.

[0012] Since no height difference is required for conveying the supply rolls, it is particularly advantageous if the roll feeding surface is arranged to be substantially level with the ground. Lifting of the heavy supply rolls for placing them on the roll feeding surface can be largely omitted because of this.

[0013] For conveying the supply rolls on from the device to other work stations it is possible to provide conveying means at one side of the device, for example a rolling cart with a receiving element in a trough shape, on which the supply roll can be deposited. If the height of the roll feeding surface substantially corresponds to the height of the upper edge of the conveying means, at least on the side where the conveying means are arranged, it follows that the supply rolls can be substantially rolled without lifting, or holding, from the roll feeding surface onto the conveying means and, if required, back from the conveying means onto the roll feeding surface.

[0014] If a plurality of drive mechanisms are provided on the device, it is advantageous if these can be actuated individually and/or in groups separately from each other. Therefore, if several rolls are stored on the roll feeding surface, it is possible to convey these individually and independently of each other in the conveying direction on the roll feeding surface.

[0015] A reversal of the conveying direction of the supply rolls is possible by reversing the driving mechanisms, so that it is also possible to remove supply rolls.

[0016] If the driving mechanism is essentially arranged at right angles in respect to the longitudinal axis of the supply roll, only a driving force which acts substantially on a point, additionally along a line, on the surface area of the supply roll can be transmitted by a driving mechanism to a supply roll. So that in those cases in which the driving force acts off center the supply rolls can be turned around their vertical axes extending through the center of gravity, at least two driving mechanisms extending parallel in respect to each other in the conveying direction can be provided on the device. If the supply roll is then deposited on the roll feeding surface in such a way that the center of gravity lies between the two driving mechanisms extending parallel in respect to each other, a twisting of the supply roll can be prevented by a synchronous operation of the two driving mechanisms and a roll-off movement which is exclusively linearly directed can be caused in this way.

[0017] The lateral distance between the two driving mechanisms extending parallel in respect to each other should be less than or equal to half the length of the axes of the supply rolls to be conveyed. If more than three driving mechanisms are provided on the device it is assured by this maximum distance between the driving mechanisms that the supply rolls to be conveyed are each in contact with at least two driving mechanisms. It has been shown to be particularly advantageous if the distance between the driving mechanisms substantially corresponds to one third of the axial length of the supply rolls to be conveyed. As a result, one driving mechanism is available per quarter of the supply roll, which makes an always dependably conveyance of the supply rolls possible.

[0018] It is per se basically possible to produce the devices at any length. Thus, the supply rolls can be conveyed along a distance on the roll feeding surface which per se is of any arbitrary length. However, it is more cost-effective to produce conveying elements with drive mechanisms corresponding to one or several defined lengths, for example the standard lengths of a modular system. In the course of constructing devices whose roll feeding surfaces do no correspond to the length of the available driving mechanisms, several of these driving mechanisms can be combined and arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction. If the individual driving mechanisms arranged behind each other have no, or only a slight lateral offset, i.e. if they extend substantially in a line, they constitute a driving train together, which can extend over the entire length of the roll feeding surface. However, the driving mechanisms arranged behind each other can also have a greater lateral offset, as long as it is assured that in each area of the roll feeding surface a sufficient number of driving mechanisms can always come simultaneously into contact with the supply rolls.

[0019] If the driving mechanisms are arranged adjacently directly behind each other, so that a joint, or a defined distance, results between each of the driving mechanisms arranged behind each other, it is possible that no sufficient driving force can be transferred to the supply rolls in the area between the driving mechanisms, since in this area none of the driving mechanisms respectively arranged behind each other comes into contact with the supply roll in the required manner. It is therefore advantageous if the driving mechanisms arranged behind each other have at least a slight overlap in the conveying direction. To this end it is possible for the driving mechanisms to be arranged laterally offset, wherein the offset must at least correspond to the width of the driving mechanisms. Moreover, each of the driving mechanisms can extend in its length in such a way that the upper belt of a following driving mechanism already starts before the end of the upper belt of the previous driving mechanism. As a result each of the two driving mechanisms arranged behind each other come into contact laterally offset with the surface area of the supply roll in the overlapping area of the driving mechanisms arranged behind each other.

[0020] The force required for conveying the supply roll can be transmitted positively or non-positively. If the force is positively transmitted by shaped elements in contact with the surface area of the supply roll, the surface of the supply roll can then be treated particularly gently in that the shaped elements are designed as axially symmetrical components, i.e. in the manner of rollers or cylinders. If in this case the rollers or cylinders are seated so they are freely rotatable, the driving roller or driving cylinder can roll off substantially without resistance on the supply roll in the course of the movement, so that the surface of the supply roll is not scratched or torn open.

[0021] So that the driving force of the driving mechanism can be transferred to the supply roll, in particular in case of a frictional force transfer, it may be necessary that the driving mechanism is pushed with a certain amount of pressure against the underside of the supply roll. So that this driving pressure is as even as possible and no pressure deformations are created on the supply roll, the portions of the driving mechanism which come into contact with the supply roll can be resiliently seated. Because of that, the driving mechanism can elastically yield downward when a supply roll is deposited until the supply roll comes into contact with the roll feeding surface.

[0022] For this purpose the portions of the drive mechanism which come into contact with the supply roll, for example a drive belt, can be supported on a carrier element, which is resiliently seated in the direction of the weight in respect to the portion of the device constituting the roll feeding surface, for example a frame or stand. As a result, the carrier element is pressed downward by the weight of a deposited supply roll against the spring force, so that the driving mechanism is pressed between the supply roll and the carrier element. If the driving force is transmitted by frictional contact, it is possible to assure by means of this step that the driving mechanism is pressed against the supply roll with a defined minimum pressure.

[0023] For making printing establishments even more efficient, it is possible to provide the device with a control mechanism, by means of which automatic operation is made possible. The installation can of course also be manually controlled by the operators, wherein tipping operations are particularly recommended for avoiding accidents.

[0024] If the driving mechanism can be driven in two directions, forward and in reverse, a so-called back-up operation can be made possible by this. In the course of this the supply rolls can be removed from the device by operating the driving mechanism in the forward direction and, by operating in the reverse direction they can be placed into the device. In this way it is possible, for example, to deposit partially used up supply rolls from the roll stand back in the device, wherein the same conveying means can be used for conveying the rolls away from the device, as well as to it. Since with a horizontally extending roll feeding surface no descending forces along the slope act in a defined direction, it is possible to realize a back-up operation particularly well. For conveying in both directions of conveyance, it is necessary for the driving mechanism to provide substantially the same driving force.

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are represented in the drawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows.

[0026] Shown are in:

[0027]FIG. 1, a schematically represented device in a view from above,

[0028]FIG. 2, the device in FIG. 1 in a cross-sectional view along the section line I-I,

[0029]FIG. 3, a further schematically represented device in a perspective view from above,

[0030]FIG. 4, a driving mechanism of the device in FIG. 3.

[0031] In FIG. 1 it is possible to see a portion of a device 01 with driving mechanisms 02, which are only schematically represented in FIG. 1 and are a part of conveying elements 17, which cannot be seen in FIG. 1. Several supply rolls 04 can be deposited on a level, horizontally extending roll feeding surface 03 of the device 01 on which they lie, i.e. with their longitudinal axis 06 extending horizontally. Then some portions of the surface area of the supply roll 04, for example a paper roll 04, rest on the roll feeding surface 03, so that the paper roll 04 can be conveyed in two conveying directions by moving the driving mechanism selectively in the forward or reverse direction. In FIG. 1 the conveying directions are indicated by directional arrows 07 or 08. A conveying means 09, for example a rolling cart, is arranged at one side of the device 01. The conveying means 09 can be driven on rails, not represented, transversely in respect to the conveying direction of the device 01, which is indicated by the directional arrows 11 and 12.

[0032] The device 01 is represented in FIG. 2 with a conveying element 17 and the associated driving mechanism 02 in cross section along the section line I-I. For greater clarity, the components of the conveying element 17 are not represented in cross section. Furthermore, a conveying means 09 is represented which, in the operational state represented in FIG. 2, has already been loaded with a paper roll 04. A pedestal 13 of the device 01 can be seen, which is arranged on a base 14 and whose top constitutes the top of the roll feeding surface 03. Depressions 16 are provided in the roll feeding surface 03, in each of which a conveying element 17 with a driving mechanism 02, two reversing cylinders 18, a carrier element 21 and a plurality of spring elements 22, are arranged.

[0033] In the device 01, the driving mechanism 02 is embodied as a toothed belt with knobs 23, and it can be driven by the reversing cylinders 18 to circulate in two directions. The roll feeding surface 03 extends horizontally, so that no driving forces act on the paper rolls 04 when the driving mechanism 02 is stopped. If the driving mechanisms 02 are driven by the reversing cylinders 18, frictional forces act on the contact surface between the paper roll 04 and the driving mechanism 02, which are directed in the conveying directions 07 or 08, depending on the driving direction of the driving mechanism 02.

[0034] So that the upper belt 19 of the driving mechanism 02 is pressed with sufficient force against the paper roll 04, it is supported on a carrier element 21 arranged between the reversing cylinders 18, which extends at least slightly above the level of the roll feeding surface 03. In turn, the carrier element 21 is supported on the pedestal 13 by four spring elements 22, for example designed in the way of plate spring packages, of which only two are represented in FIG. 2. In the no-load state, the knobs 23 arranged on the top of the upper belt 19 project slightly upward past the height of the roll feeding surface 03. If a paper roll 04 comes into contact with the driving mechanism 02 from above, the knobs 23, and with them the driving mechanism 02 and the supporting carrier element 21, are pushed sufficiently far down in the area of contact with the paper roll 04 until the level of the roll feeding device 03 has been reached. In the course of this the spring elements 22 are deformed and in this way provide a spring force directed opposite the weight in the contact area between the driving mechanism 02 and the paper roll 04. The weight of the paper roll 04 is substantially supported on the pedestal 13 in the roll feeding device 03.

[0035] The conveying means 09 are provided, movable on tracks, at a side of the device 01. For example, the conveying means 09 can be used for conveying paper rolls 04 from the device 01 to a roll changer, not represented, of a web-fed rotary printing press, for example, and during back-up operations for returning only partially used-up paper rolls 04, for example. So that the paper rolls 04 can be rolled from the roll feeding surface 03 onto the conveying means 09 and, if required, rolled back substantially without being lifted, the upper edge 24 of the conveying means, which is constituted by the upper edge 24 of a trough-shaped receiving element 26 in this case, is arranged on the level of the roll feeding surface 03. This can be achieved, for example, by an appropriate selection of the height of the pedestal 13, or by the selection of the height of the conveying means 09.

[0036] So that in the course of rolling a paper roll 04 from the roll feeding surface 03 onto the receiving element 26 the pitching moments acting on the conveying means 09 are limited, the upper edge 27 of the device 01 projects on the side of the conveying means 09 so far that the receiving element 26 can be arranged partially underneath the upper edge 27.

[0037] It can be seen in FIG. 1 that several driving mechanisms 02 are provided extending next to each other and parallel with each other in the conveying direction, for one, and also at a slight lateral offset one behind the other in the device 01. The lateral distance d between the driving mechanisms 02 arranged parallel with each other in the conveying direction substantially corresponds to one-third of the axial length of the paper rolls 04 to be conveyed, so that it is assured that each paper roll 04 comes to rest on respectively three driving mechanisms 02. The driving mechanisms 02 arranged behind each other are arranged in width laterally offset, so that the ends of the driving mechanisms 02 can extend past the end of the respectively following driving mechanism. As a result there is an overlap u between the driving mechanisms 02 arranged behind each other, so that no areas are created between the driving mechanisms 02 arranged behind each other, in which the paper rolls 04 cannot be dependably driven.

[0038]FIG. 3 shows a device 31 with a roll feeding surface 32 extending horizontally level with the ground, on which a multitude of supply rolls 33, for example paper rolls 33, can be deposited next to and behind each other. A conveying element 36 is arranged in each of the depressions 34 of the roll feeding surface 32, by means of which the paper rolls 33 can be conveyed to conveying means 37, which can be moved along tracks, not represented. Here the conveying means 37 are arranged in a depression 40 in order to make possible a substantially identical level between an upper edge 43 of the roll feeding surface 32 and the upper edge 43 of the conveying means 37 when the roll feeding surface 32 is arranged level with the ground. Depending on the movement directions of the driving mechanisms 36, the paper rolls 33 can be conveyed in the conveying directions in accordance with the directional arrows 44 or 46.

[0039] One end of a conveying element 36 can be seen in an enlarged representation in FIG. 4. For driving, the conveying element 36 has two driving mechanisms 38, embodied in the form of drive chains 38, on whose sides facing the paper rolls 33, shaped elements 39 embodied as cylinders 39, or individual rollers, are fastened. For fastening the shaped element 39 on the two driving mechanisms 38, schematically represented bearing elements 41 are provided in pairs on the driving mechanisms 38, between which the cylinders 39 are seated, freely rotatable. When the driving mechanisms 38 are driven, the cylinders 39 come to rest on the surface area of the paper rolls 33 and take them along in the direction of the driving direction of the driving mechanisms 38. As a result the driving force is thus positively transmitted to the paper rolls 33, wherein damage to the surface of the paper rolls 33 is avoided because of the rotatable seating of the cylinders 39. The depressions 34 can be covered by a cover plate 42. Moreover, the edge of the cover plate 42 constitutes the upper edge 43 of the device 31, underneath which the conveying means 37 can be arranged.

[0040] The seating elements 41 for the cylinders can preferably be resiliently fastened on the driving mechanisms 38, so that an axis-parallel matching to the surface area of the supply roll is possible.

[0041] The axis-parallel alignment of the supply roll during the conveying movement is achieved by this.

[0042] The resilient seating of the cylinder 39 is used as an overload protection. When a changeable maximum load on the cylinder 39, or the driving mechanism 38, is exceeded, the cylinder is placed on the roll feeding surface 32, and the arising forces are passed on into the latter.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0043]01 Device

[0044]02 Driving mechanism

[0045]03 Roll feeding surface

[0046]04 Supply roll, paper roll

[0047]05 —

[0048]06 Longitudinal axis

[0049]07 Directional arrow, forward conveying direction

[0050]08 Directional arrow, reverse conveying direction

[0051]09 Conveying means

[0052]10 —

[0053]11 Directional arrow, transverse conveying direction

[0054]12 Directional arrow, transverse conveying direction

[0055]13 Pedestal

[0056]14 Base

[0057]15 —

[0058]16 Depressions

[0059]17 Conveying element

[0060]18 Reversing cylinder

[0061]19 Upper belt

[0062]20 —

[0063]21 Carrier element

[0064]22 Spring element

[0065]23 Knobs

[0066]24 Upper edge

[0067]25 —

[0068]26 Receiving element

[0069]27 Upper edge

[0070]31 Device

[0071]32 Roll feeding surface

[0072]33 Supply roll, paper roll

[0073]34 Depression

[0074]35 —

[0075]36 Conveying element

[0076]37 Conveying means

[0077]38 Driving mechanism, drive chain

[0078]39 Shaped element, cylinder

[0079]40 Depression

[0080]41 Seating element

[0081]42 Cover plate

[0082]43 Upper edge

[0083]44 Directional arrow, forward conveying direction

[0084]45 —

[0085]46 Directional arrow, reverse conveying direction

[0086] d Distance

[0087] u Overlap 

1. A device (01, 03) for conveying at least one supply roll (04, 33), having a roll feeding surface (03, 32) on which the supply roll (04, 33) can be deposited with its longitudinal axis (06) substantially extending in the horizontal direction, wherein the supply roll (04, 33) rolls off with its surface area on the roll feeding surface (03, 32) in at least one conveying direction (07, 08, 44, 46), wherein the device (01, 31) has at least one conveying element (17, 36) with at least one circulating driving mechanism (02, 38), wherein an upper belt (19) of the driving mechanism (02, 38) acts indirectly or directly together from below with the surface area of the supply roll (04, 33) and can be driven in at least one conveying direction (07, 08, 44, 46), characterized in that the upper belt (19) of the driving mechanism (02, 38) acts from below on the supply roll (04, 33), that at least two driving mechanisms (02, 38) are arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction (07, 08, 44, 46) on the device (01, 31), that the driving mechanisms (02) arranged one behind the other are arranged laterally offset corresponding to their width and each extends in the conveying direction (07, 08) sufficiently far so that the upper belt (19) of a front driving mechanism (02) has, on an end pointing to a trailing driving mechanism (02), at least a slight overlap (u) in the conveying direction (07, 08) with the upper belt (18) of the trailing driving mechanism (02).
 2. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the roll feeding surface (03, 32) extends substantially horizontally.
 3. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the roll feeding surface (32) is arranged substantially level with the ground.
 4. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a conveying means (09) for conveying the supply roll (04) is arranged on at least one side of the roll feeding surface (03) wherein, at least on the side on which the conveying means (09) can be arranged, the height of the roll feeding surface (03) substantially corresponds to the height of the upper edge (24) of the conveying means (09).
 5. The device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at the side of the roll feeding surface (03, 32) at which the conveying means (09, 37) can be arranged, the upper edge (27, 43) of the device (01, 31) projects out, at least in sections, so far that the conveying means (09, 37) can be arranged at least partially underneath the upper edge (27, 43).
 6. The device in accordance with claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the conveying means (09, 37) is designed like a rolling cart with a trough-shaped receiving element (26).
 7. The device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a plurality of driving mechanisms (02, 38) are provided on the device (01, 31), which can be actuated individually and/or in groups separately of each other.
 8. The device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least two driving mechanisms (02, 38) extending parallel with each other in the conveying direction (07, 08, 44, 46) are provided on the device (01, 31).
 9. The device in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the lateral distance (d) between the driving mechanisms (02) is less than or equal to half the axial length of the supply rolls (04) to be conveyed.
 10. The device in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the distance (d) between the driving mechanisms (02) corresponds to essentially one third of the axial length of the supply rolls (04) to be conveyed.
 11. The device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the driving mechanism (02, 38) is embodied in the manner of a drive chain or a drive belt.
 12. The device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the side of the driving mechanism (02) which can be brought into contact with the supply roll (04) is designed in such a way that a force directed in the conveying direction (07, 08) can be transmitted by friction to the supply roll (04).
 13. The device in accordance with claim 12, characterized in that the driving mechanism (02) is designed in the manner of a flat belt or knobbed belt.
 14. The device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the side of the driving mechanism (38) which can be brought into contact with the supply roll (33) is designed in such a way that a force directed in the conveying direction (44, 46) can be positively transmitted to the supply roll (33).
 15. The device in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that on the side of the upper belt (19) of the driving mechanism (38) pointing toward the supply roll (33) shaped elements (39) are arranged with defined spacing, which extend upward past the roll feeding surface (32) and can be brought into contact with the surface area of the supply roll (33).
 16. The device in accordance with claim 15, characterized in that the shaped elements (39) are designed in the form of rollers or cylinders, whose center axes are arranged parallel with the longitudinal axis of the supply roll (33).
 17. The device in accordance with claims 15 or 16, characterized in that the shaped elements (39) are seated freely rotatable.
 18. The device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that at least those parts of the driving mechanism (19, 23) which can be brought into contact with the supply roll (04), are resiliently seated, at least in the direction of their weight.
 19. The device in accordance with claim 18, characterized in that at least those parts of the driving mechanism (19, 23) which can be brought into contact with the supply roll (04), are supported on a carrier element (21), which is resiliently seated, at least in the direction of its weight, in respect to the portion of the device (13) constituting the roll feeding surface (03).
 20. The device in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that the carrier element (21) is embodied as a resiliently seated connecting strip, which comes to rest from below against the upper belt (19) of the driving mechanism (19, 23), or against the shaped elements (39) connected with the driving mechanism.
 21. The device in accordance with one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that in the area of each of the reversing cylinders the carrier element (21) is seated on at least one spring element (22), in particular a plate spring package.
 22. The device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that several supply rolls (04, 33) can be arranged on the roll feeding surface (03, 32), lying behind and/or next to each other in the conveying direction (07, 08, 44, 46).
 23. The device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the device (01, 31) can be automatically actuated by means of a control device.
 24. The device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that in a first operating state the driving mechanism (02, 38) can be driven forward, and in a second operating state in reverse.
 25. The device in accordance with claim 15, characterized in that the shaped elements (39) are resiliently arranged on the driving elements (38). 